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Burning Skies Saloon
RearAdmiralZill:
-Narrator-
Zill met with every familiar face in the saloon, accepting help and buying rounds. Despite the harsh reality of war baring down on them, one wouldn't know it with the merriment at the Burning Skies.
Zill sat at the table with Jun'ko, William, and Nova. They talked about life. Catching up with old friends was something to treasure nowadays. Often were old friends buried in the wake of battles for land, for wealth, and power. These things meant nothing to the denizens of the Burning Skies. They had a city to defend, and each with their own agenda for doing so.
The battle to come would test everything they have come to know. Once thought of as allies, the Baronies come with thunderous fleets to conquer that which has been independent for so long. If Anvala fell, what would stop further incursions?
Slowly, the patrons all left to their various places of rest. The coming hours of sleep would be their last for what will seem like years.
-End Narrator-
--End day 124--
Yiski:
--START OF DAY 125--
--NARRATOR--
All available vessels were in the skies around Anvala. Final recon reports gave a breakdown of the ships the Barons were bringing: 20 squids, 15 goldfish, 15 pyramidion, 20 galleons, and 20 infantry transports.
Zill sat in the middle of the Anvalan fleet looking over the horizon and anticipating battle. Yiski sat in the saloon with Althea and other defenders keeping him safe. Yiski was hanging over the radio with Frank on the other side.
Frank
"How do you think they'll do this?"
Yiski
"Given the number of squids and transports, they'll use the squids to come in high-speed and take out as many batteries as possible. Have the mercs aim for the engines to slow them and have the flaks finish them. For the transports, use the lumberjacks to wipe their balloon."
Frank
"And the rest of their fleet?"
Yiski
"Don't miss."
Hours passed when all Anvalan radios got a transmission of the Baronies' fleet within twenty kilometers of the city. Within minutes the fleet was sitting at ten kilometers and in sight of Zill and the Anvalan fleet. Zill called over the radio.
Zill
"Yiski, looks like we got guests."
--NARRATOR END--
RearAdmiralZill:
-But then it broke-
Zill looked onto the barren wasteland that was east of Anvala, his sniper side ready. The sun beat down on everyone with an eerie red glow. The salt and sand burned their eyes, and the waiting was tense. Zill, remembering BdrLine's intel, he radioed the wall guard.
Zill
"Pop the blue smoke."
Moments later, blue smoke began rising over the walls at each main tower. Zill used his spyglass to watch the Baron formation. Nothing twitched for a few minutes. Then, a lone galleon began moving forward slowly. It was slight, but caught Zill's eye. He watched as it inched forward, and then suddenly lurched into an all out sprint. Three pyramidions and two goldfish soon followed suit, all popping tar barrel and getting into formation to cover the galleon. Suddenly a rain of fire came down around the small formation.
Zill
"Everyone keep a trained eye on that group, but hold fire. If they pop blue smoke at 2km, they are friendly."
Everyone was tense watching them dodge the fleet barrages. Zill cringed when a pyramidion got hit and fell to the ground, exploding. A few shots connected but the remaining ships seemed to of finally gotten out of range. At 2 km, they slowed down, and still kept formation. The smoke wasn't there yet and Zill's radio sparked to life.
Officer
"Orders rea-?"
Zill
"Wait for it."
Moments later, each ship popped blue smoke canisters. Zill took a heavy breath and ordered all guns trained back on the fleet while they retreated back behind the wall to be briefed. He gripped a piece of parchment in his hand, crinkling it and gritting his teeth. The council had demoted him to rear admiral, citing insubordination and bringing danger to the city, among other long-winded accusations. They appointed a council member as admiral, to add insult to injury. If it wasn't for this invasion, he would probably be fighting off assassins. The last commanding admiral didn't fare too well against them.
It didn't matter though; not to Zill or any of those who knew he would be in charge of this fleet today.
Plasmarobo:
--The Pointy End, 500m Above the City--
Plasma surveys the Baronies Fleet with a spyglass. Surprise turning to elation as the tar maneuver successfully cripples the front lines of the enemy fleet, preventing advancement for a moment.
The Pointy End's engines purr against the wind, gently countering their influence with a whispered, guttural rebuke. The battle plan squawks over the radio. Verra acknowledges, then commands the BreakPoint, and CounterPoint into a loose triangular formation, the other two listing slightly behind the Pointy End. A triangle of three triangles.
The Baronies kept the traitors advancing under a barrage of fire. The Pointy End began to dip, rocked slightly, then came to and abrupt halt. Smoke issued from the ships and the city did not fire. Plasma smiled. But it soon faded.
The tiny ships began to race forward over and under the Tar, staggering their approach, making it difficult to hit them all on the same plane of fire. Soon they were a mere 4 km off.
A word crackled over the radio.
Radio
"Point Wing, FIRE."
Verra echoed the order with sinister exultation. The weapons thundered in time. Projectiles eagerly racing each other through the air, rippling the suspended tar. They discarded streaks of burnt powder residue and screamed their joy before punching through the metal plating of the diesel engines on the approaching squids and, displeased with the abrupt halt, detonated. Their rage tore propeller, fuel lines, and drive alike.
But the Squids were fast.
Round after round issued from the powerful guns, but the transports were advancing behind the screen.
Soon the oncoming wave of ships would have their tentacles in the guns of the battery. But a new source of thunder shattered the sky. The heavy flak batteries on the walls and Galleons propelled the heavy projectiles towards the crippled Squids, their crews gazing in horror at the brilliant projectiles traveling lazily towards their immobile vessels, helpless.
The air was littered with shattered wood and metal. Yet still there were too many. The mercuries if all three ships were firing as fast as they could be reloaded. The last group of Squids would be within the Flak-Line soon.
The Baronies fleet had not been idle. Several answering reports sounded, and The Pointy End rocked, drifting off target. A few of the advancing Squids had managed to find their guns. Plasma glances up to both Mercuries, now smoking piles of ruin.
Damnit!
He flings himself up the ladder, almost flying in his haste, ripping the spanner off his belt and hammering the mercury in front of him with an urgency and aggression causing even his Captain to pause for a moment. And then it was firing again, propelling round after round into the Squids. Flak bursts and burnt powder were filling the air.
The Squids seemed happy to target the wall batteries, giving the Point Wing ample opportunity to aim for their guns and armor while the flak did it's work.
Captain Lockheart:
Lockheart got word of the Baronies fleet inbound on Anvala over the radio. His heart sunk in his chest after hearing the Ship numbers. Nonetheless he got up and put opn his body Armour, War Room jacket, 2 pistols, sniper and his 2 swords. Before Scrambling his crew and warning his extra ship. He quickly ran up to the saloon said a quick goodbye and good luck to Yiski, before dashing off to get the Yeshan Dragon into position. He then stood at the helm of his Galleon and addressed his crew.
Lockheart
"Lets show these men how Chaladonians fight!. Raise the banners!"
*Cheering from both Lockheart Ships, they soon raise the Lockheart family Banner and the Banner of Chaladon*
Lockheart
"Now, we may die here... But your one of the finest crews I've had... Ludvig! Get out my special reserve!."
2 Barrels of Chaladonian Wine and Whiskey fell from the top deck. The men cheered as they got tankards and filled them up to attempt to raise their spirits despite their impending doom.
Lockheart
"Damn!"
Lockheart shielded his eyes from the rising sun and walked down the stairs to the deck and got a tankard of Wine and Whiskey before throwing the barrels over the side. His crew boo'd but he simply pointed to the fleet in the distance. Their facial expressions sunk and the stampeded to their posts.
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